21.04.2004 ‘We always do well at Imola and I hope that we are able to live up to our billing as favourites’, Michael Schumacher looks forward to Imola this weekend

With testing wrapped up and just back from an evening in Rome as a guest of the TV show Porta a Porta with Montezemolo, Todt and Rubens, Michael Schumacher allowed himself a little rest ahead of the San Marino GP.

The fourth stage of the season will kick off with a football match with the national pilots at Forlì.

The German was in optimistic mood: ‘We always do well at Imola and I hope that we are able to live up to our billing as favourites.’ Michael wants to do well on the circuit at Santerno seeing as he is Ambassador of San Marino: ‘I have to admit that this make the race even more special.’

The performance of the Scuderia prior to the Australian GP serves to calm the champ, but he is as prudent as ever when he states that, ‘we shouldn’t be too relaxed. Testing took place when it was very cold and this contributed to us setting fast times.

'Also, I think that the other teams have improved a lot since then and so I don’t think that the difference between us and them will be that great. However, if things turn out as they did during testing, I sure won’t be complaining!’ he added with a big grin.

After Bahrain, Ferrari have run many tests, a lot in the opinion of some people and too many in the opinion of others given that the difference between the Scuderia and the other top teams.

‘But isn't this a secret of all sport, and the secret of Formula One?’ ponders Michael. The six-time world champion went on: ‘resting on our laurels serves no purpose; it will only lead to defeat. We always have to look a few steps ahead and continually improve and this is something that regards everyone’. And if some people have doubts Michael, doesn't hesitate to add that, ‘even at Ferrari there is a lot that we can still improve. The European stages begin now and it is from here on that teams develop more consistency. We certainly can't relax in a period like this.’

So Ferrari is still the team to beat and maybe the desire to win in front of a ‘home’ crowd could create some pressure for the Scuderia: ‘it's precisely this that motivates every single member of the team and pressure is not problem; I've lived with it for ages, its what we have to do even though it seems to me that we manage quite well, don't you think?’